Heated email exchange between Shuster and Clinton aid

[jefferson_dem]

Reporter initially defended Chelsea comment
By: Michael Calderone
February 8, 2008 10:45 PM EST

Before MSNBC's David Shuster was suspended by the network Friday for on-air comments he made about Chelsea Clinton, the television reporter engaged in a heated correspondence with a spokesman for Hillary Clinton in which he defended his appearance and refused demands to apologize.

A copy of the e-mail exchange between Shuster and Philippe Reines, a longtime Clinton aide, was obtained by Politico and is reprinted here.

On Thursday, Shuster guest-hosted Tucker Carlson's MSNBC show, "Tucker," and in referring to Chelsea Clinton's role in calling superdelegates on behalf of the Clinton presidential campaign, he asked if she was "sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

Later that night, he heard from an outraged Reines, who called the remarks "absurdly offensive."

Shuster was unrepentant. He told Reines his commentary was justified because of the contrast between Chelsea Clinton's overt political role and the aggressive way campaign aides "jump down the throat" of reporters who seek to question her about it.

<SNIP>

In the Reines-Shuster corresondence which follows on page two, the e-mail addresses have been removed, as have the names of NBC and Clinton campaign officials who were copied on the exchange.


-----Original Message-----
From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 7:14 p.m.

David - how hard is it for someone, anyone, in the vast MS/NBC universe to contact any one of us at the campaign for comment about Chelsea before going on air and saying that she is being "pimped out" ? It's absurdly offensive. And what the hell does that even mean?

Philippe Reines
Press Secretary
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton



-----Original Message-----
From: David Shuster
To: Philippe Reines
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 8:51 p.m.

Nice to hear from you, philippe.

It is a fact that chelsea has made calls to superdelegates, as your campaign colleagues have acknowledged. It is also a fact that the campaign has reacted quite harshly to any media who have sought to interview chelsea. That was the point. By slamming any reporter who seeks to chat with chelsea while simultaneously having chelsea do campaign tasks such as trying to convince super delegates to support her mom, that's the reference.

Chelsea is polite and does a fine job of saying "I don't want to talk.". But for campaign staff to then jump down the throat of a reporter who seeks to talk to chelsea...that's an issue.

--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry



-----Original Message-----
From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 9:00 p.m.

Since you guys asked for the transcript - here specifically is what David said on air:

SHUSTER: "But doesn't it seem like she's being--but doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

I have a hunch that such offensive and unacceptable language was never used on MSNBC's air about Karenna Gore, the Bush twins, Venessa & Alex Kerry, Kate Edwards, the Romney sons - or any other adult offspring who chose to campaign on behalf of a parent.



-----Original Message-----
From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 9:16: p.m.

David - I want to make sure I'm crystal clear here - you're saying that because she doesn't grant interviews and makes calls on behalf of her mother, you are right to say that she is being pimped out?

I don't need to read a the whole transcript for context, you were way out of line. Nobody's jumping down your throat about asking for an interview or talking about calls she made. And you know it.

There is simply no excuse for being so offensive.

<SNIP>

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=FC2902B9-3048-5C12-0094F2AEC2A275D8

[Captain Hilts]

1. You can do whatever you want to defend your: spouse, children, parents, quarterback or goalie. nt

[neutron]

2. Shuster was a jerk

It seems like a tradition to smear a celebrity to strongarm them into
being on your show.

[DJ13]

3. Always the angry victims

Say anything, do anything to get elected.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

13. They don't sound like victims they sound like they're calling a dick out for his stupid comments

[SaveOurDemocracy]

4. WTF???

Behind the scenes, Phil Griffin, senior vice president at MSNBC, took the criticism over Shuster's remarks from the Clinton camp especially seriously, and Tim Russert helped mediate the situation, according to sources.

But one high-level NBC source told Politico that apologizing was an act of cowardice on behalf of the network.

"This is at least the second time they've caved to the Hillary Clinton campaign," a source told Politico, referring to Chris Matthews' recent apology over remarks he recently made about Clinton that were widely denounced as sexist. "What does this do to journalism?"

So this asshole thinks it was 'caving to the Clinton campaign' to apologize for outrageously offensive/sexist remarks??

[Tatiana]

5. Shuster was right to apologize. He exhibited a very poor choice of words.

But I have a sneaking suspicion that the journos at MSNBC and the parent company may circle the wagon. If so, there will be negative consequences for the Clinton campaign.

[Medusa]

6. Yeah--that's why we saw Keith Olbermann tonight with the knee pads on

groveling. Look they're trying to do anything to keep the Debate on MSNBC. It means money for them. If they lose it, Schuster is out, loyalties be damned. Maybe Keith ought to think twice before choosing political sides himself. One wrong word towards the wrong party and you're the next Don Imus at MSNBC it seems. And when dealing with the Clintons you have to be especially careful about what you say.

[K Gardner]

9. Exactly. The truly sad result of this: If anyone thought coverage on

MSNBC was biased BEFORE... just wait until next week.

[Tatiana]

10. Just give it a bit of time and see how this plays out.

Watch how the other networks and journalists cover her campaign.

[sandnsea]

29. That's exactly true

which is why I say they didn't do anything to avert this war. Look at the power they have when they want to use it, and the only time they ever want to use it is when something involves them personally.

[durrrty libby]

7. MSNBC is infected with sexism and has been for a long time

Just imagine if the remarks had been racist rather than sexist?


Sexism is still tolerated and it is just as offensive as racism

Media Matters has some of the history here

http://mediamatters.org/items/200802080012?f=h_top

[ShortnFiery]

16. No, Media Matters allowed Mark Penn's people to "punk them" against Mathews.

Mathews is a horse's ass but he's not, in particular, sexist.

Tweety loves tough play in politics and tends to like "the winner" regardless of gender. It's not Tweety's fault that "sports analogies" tend to come across as sexist. Many young girls and women now play team sports.

HRC is IMO, the anti-feminist. She represents the "clingy wife" who wears her husband's rank. There's very little Pro-Women about HRC's life example much less the way she is allowing Mark Penn to run her campaign.

[durrrty libby]

19. lol

[ShortnFiery]

21. Oh come on! Those of us who have repeatedly worked in male oriented jobs know how *easy* it is ...

to "play the victim." It's some pretty sick stuff too. Those of us women who hold up our end, regardless of job description really despise those who constantly WHINE that they are being treated "unfairly." It's so clear that Mark Penn, et. al., punked "Media Matters" - but you already know that, don't you? ;) :evilgrin:

Again, in my world - where most of us women choose careers SEPARATE from our spouse's, the thought of *nepotism* is deplorable. HRC is the anti-feminist. :thumbsdown:

[napi21]

8. I'm surprised that Bill didn't call them himself! I have to say, if someone

in the nedia said that about MY daughter, I'd be looking for heads to roll! I'm still having a hard time understanding why Schuster said that! He's one of the few reporters that I thought was good. It's just not like him to do that!

[goldcanyonaz]

12. I'm having a harder time reading so many sticking up for him here

[comradebillyboy]

17. Schuster has been kissing up to tweety and the boy's club

Hillary bashing has been all the fashion on MSNBC and she can take it pretty well personally. They made the mistake of bashing Hillary's daughter and she won't put up with that. She is a mean, tough, vindictive bitch which is one reason I like her so much. She fights back and I am just delighted to see her slap the MSM around and call them on their bullshit. When she is president, I expect her to do the same to the pukes and DINOs who get in her way, or try to block her health care plan or other programs to help people in my income bracket.

Schuster's morning apology was so insincere and insulting, he cooked his own goose. Dumbass celebrity pundit wannabe.

[DURHAM D]

23. Do you read all of the emails. David clearly thinks he is "entitled". n/t

[mondo joe]

11. Good. We need a nominee who can take on the MSM and fight.

[angie_love]

14. Why doesn't Chelsea just come out defend herself, say fuck off, and let it go?

Damn. This is a small taste of how Clintons control the media.

[comradebillyboy]

26. I think its a nice change of pace to see the candidate

fight back at baseless and insulting media smears pretending to be journalism. If Gore and Kerry had the courage to do that one of them might be president instead of Bush.

[Radical Activist]

15. It looks like he's confusing the two issues.

He's mad about lack of access to Chelsea and he makes a fair point about the double standard of her being involved in the campaign but not open to questions.

But Chelsea is under no obligation to talk to the press if she doesn't want to and Philippe is right that it doesn't justify an ugly comment like that.

[ShortnFiery]

18. True But Bill and Hill have no right to get "all puritan" on MSNBC because ...

a woman who was 5 years younger than Chelsea is now (22 y.o. Monica Lewinsky), was giving HRC's husband *a blow job in The Oval Office less than a decade ago.

My point: Self-righteous indignation NO LONGER "plays well" when it emanates from either Bill or Hillary Clinton. :thumbsdown:

[Dogmudgeon]

20. What about YOUR self-righteous indignation?

It appears that at the bottom of it, this is all about your reaction to Bill Clinton's involvement with Monica Lewinsky.

Some kind of vicarious sex rage.

--p!

[ShortnFiery]

22. I have no sex rage. Only that Bill Clinton was morally bankrupt to not RESIGN after he lied

to The American People.

Yes, it does matter to me that my President is physically faithful to his/her spouse. Now that we can KNOW our Public Figures, they should, in turn, make a concerted effort to at least live a MORAL life while they are residing ... say, IN OUR WHITE HOUSE?

That's not asking much. Hell, the French people are rating their President low ONLY BECAUSE he got married "way too soon" after the finalization of his divorce. But at least The French President and his former wife, had the honesty to ask each other for a divorce? :shrug:

[anamandujano]

27. Excellent right wing talking point. Obama and his followers pride

themselves on using them whenever they can.

[angie_love]

30. Just b/c some ppl don't like their husbands cheating on them doesn't mean its a right wing talking p

point. Do you want your husband/wife cheating on you in front of the entire nation? I actually applaud Hillary for the way she handled herself. I would've gone apeshit mad. Of course who knows what happened behind the scenes. However I also would've dumped his ass but tahts just me.

[comradebillyboy]

32. I suspect Hillary made Bill's life miserable

or should I say even more miserable for quite a while before forgiveness. There was some pay back for sure.

[DURHAM D]

24. Its definitely her theme. Always has been.

[comradebillyboy]

25. Schuster attacked Hillary's daughter in an insulting

and unprofessional way. It has nothing to do with the Monica affair at all thats just a distraction from the here and now. going after the candidate for a legit reason is fair, but going after the family for doing what family members normally do to support parents campaign is uncalled for. why is Chelsea obliged to give a jerk like Schuster or any other so called journalist an interview? She's not running for anything. Do you think she needs to pay for the sins of her father?

[Tropics_Dude83]

28. Chelsea is a witch

Google what she did to the 12 year old little girl writing for a school newspaper in Iowa. I can't stand her.

Again, I love Janet Reno, Janet Napolitano, Claire Mcksaskill, Christine Gregorie, Debbie Stabenow, Patty Murray, etc. I do not hate women.

[comradebillyboy]

31. contemtable post nt

[Dogmudgeon]

33. Wonkette quoting the anti-Clinton Wall Street Journal

A gossip quoting a RW editorial page.

Quite the authoritative post there.

--p!